News: How did Vernon Davis get so open?

[WoodysGirl]

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The simple answer is that the Dallas Cowboys' zone defense broke down when San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick scrambled before firing a 29-yard touchdown strike to Vernon Davis.

“It’s a learning experience for me,” said safety J.J. Wilcox, a second-year player making his sixth career start. “If I have to take responsibility for it, I will.”

Wilcox’s responsibilities on the play were to cover the slant and flat area on the left side of the defense. Davis ran a short out in Wilcox’s area before turning upfield when Kaepernick left the pocket and rolled to his right.

Wilcox stayed in his assigned area instead of running with Davis. Cornerback Brandon Carr ended up being the closest player to Davis when he caught the ball, but Carr was covering a receiver in the end zone so it was a too-little, too-late dash toward Davis.

Read the rest: http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4733230/how-did-vernon-davis-get-so-wide-open

 

[TwoDeep3]

This team has done this malfunction for how many years now?

Sometimes its the culture.

 

[links18]

Defense was much improved yesterday up front, but we still can't cover anyone with any consistency.

 

[Cebrin]

Because the only relevant defensive player we have was watching the game on TV with the rest of.

 

[The Natural]

“It’s a learning experience for me,” said safety J.J. Wilcox, a second-year player making his sixth career start. “If I have to take responsibility for it, I will"

Uhhh I dont think there is any "If" involved

 

[Future]

To me, the vast majority of the problems that Dallas had against SF just stem from an overall lack of attention to detail.

 

[Stash]

Round pegs, square holes...

 

[anava]

If Carr would have hit Davis on that play instead of letting up and swatting at the ball odds are he would have dropped it. He was juggling it pretty good.

 

[perrykemp]

Vernon Davis had the same amount of TDs last season as Dez Bryant did -- and he did it in one less game. This just in -- Vernon Davis is incredibly explosive.

Good coverage safeties have their hands full with him. To think Church or Wilcox, basically two box safeties, were going to do any better is being too optimistic. It's not their fault they are being asked to do something that just isn't possible. It's unbelievable to me the front-office hasn't been successful drafting a legitimate coverage safety.

 

[The Natural]

Ahh good ole' FF. Come to think of it, I had Dallas's defense in 2 money leagues that were really close .... and I probably lost now.

You deserved that L, what were you thinking?

 

[dstovall5]

You deserved that L, what were you thinking?

Gotta stay loyal to the team, I also had Romo and he killed me ... I had Romo / Bailey / Dallas representing in most of my leagues.

 

[jrumann59]

Funny thing about yesterdays game I went in worried about the front 7 not the secondary. Romo and the offense will right itself and I am not worried but the defense it always seemed we were 1 man down in the secondary I know that wasn't the case but we always seemed to have one out of position so bad that it is like we are playing 10 on 11

 

[The Natural]

Gotta stay loyal to the team, I also had Romo and he killed me ... I had Romo / Bailey / Dallas representing in most of my leagues.

I had Romo and the defense last year and after that I said no more. Dez, Bailey, Murray are the only cowboys I would draft

 

[WoodysGirl]

Gotta stay loyal to the team, I also had Romo and he killed me ... I had Romo / Bailey / Dallas representing in most of my leagues.

I love the Cowboys, but I didn't even think of picking Dallas defense. lol

On the flip side, I did bench all my SF players wherever I could. Now THAT cost me more than Romo did. lol

 

[fweegy]

How did he get so open? He arrived in Dallas.

 

[WV Cowboy]

“It’s a learning experience for me,” said safety J.J. Wilcox, a second-year player making his sixth career start. “If I have to take responsibility for it, I will.”

Uhhh I dont think there is any "If" involved

We kind of wish you would have taken responsibility for it prior to the game, .. maybe in practice at some point.

 

[CATCH17]

Hard to say but it looked like Carr was supposed to be in that zone and he left it.


I guess that's what happens when you take the entire summer off and think you can just show up week 1 and play at the highest level.

 

[perrykemp]

Hard to say but it looked like Carr was supposed to be in that zone and he left it.

I guess that's what happens when you take the entire summer off and think you can just show up week 1 and play at the highest level.

I think one of the under-analyzed aspects of the pre-season was how much time Carr missed for the death of a family member. It's a highly sensitive topic obviously.

Here is the question worth asking -- If Carr was a 2nd year UDFA without a huge contract would he have been away from camp for so long? It seemed like the amount of time he was away was extra-ordinary. I'm sure they did him a favor and gave him the time/space he requested, however, at the end of the day it's all about wins and losses.

I know that's harsh -- however, I believe Carr missed <most> of the preseason.

 

[scottsp]

Vernon is perhaps their lone vertical threat and a problem for average defenses, much less this one.

 

[ragman]

For the last 2 or three years, the Cowboys have had trouble with athletic TEs. Look at game logs for that time frame. Yesterday was no different.